One thing that is important to note: I don’t define my Islam by things that are happening overseas. I define my Islam in the context of my situation and where I live. In other words, I will not be intimidated into projecting my religion through the lens of another land. I have a job to do in my country amongst my people and that can be done in a peaceful law-abiding fashion.

About the author

Suhaib Webb

Suhaib Webb is a contemporary American-Muslim educator, activist, and lecturer. His work bridges classical and contemporary Islamic thought, addressing issues of cultural, social and political relevance to Muslims in the West. After converting to Islam in 1992, Webb left his career in the music industry to pursue his passion in education. He earned a Bachelor’s in Education from the University of Central Oklahoma and received intensive private training in the Islamic Sciences under a renowned Muslim Scholar of Senegalese descent. Webb was hired as the Imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City, where he gave khutbas (sermons), taught religious classes, and provided counselling to families and young people; he also served as an Imam and resident scholar in communities across the U.S.

From 2004-2010, Suhaib Webb studied at the world’s preeminent Islamic institution of learning, Al-Azhar University, in the College of Shari`ah. During this time, after several years of studying the Arabic Language and the Islamic legal tradition, he also served as the head of the English Translation Department at Dar al-Ifta al-Misriyyah.

Outside of his studies at Al-Azhar, Suhaib Webb completed the memorization of the Quran in the city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. He has been granted numerous traditional teaching licenses (ijazat), adhering to centuries-old Islamic scholarly practice of ensuring the highest standards of scholarship.

Webb was named one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in the World by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center in 2010 and his website, www.SuhaibWebb.com, was voted the best “Blog of the Year” by the 2009 Brass Crescent awards.

Suhaib Webb has lectured extensively around the world including in the Middle East, East Asia, Europe, North Africa and North America. Upon returning from his studies in Egypt, Webb lived in the Bay Area, California, where he worked with the Muslim American Society from Fall 2010 to Winter 2011. He currently serves as the Imam of the Islamic Society of Boston’s Cultural Center (ISBCC).

I gave a khutbah filled with authentic texts and the opinions of revered leaders of Ahle Sunnah wal-Jama’ah with the intention to fix the extremist emotional overcome anti-American tendencies that exist among some immigrant Muslims and those natives who they have brainwashed with their ignorance of Islam. Many younger active immigrant professionals, native youth, and converts were impressed and said that this was a breath of fresh air to know exactly how Islamic Law really is regarding these violent terrorist tendencies.

On the other hand many immigrant uncles sent complaints through the board that I am going too American!!! In my last three khutba’s I talked about tolerance, local culture vs. religion and the truth about militant Jihad in Islam focusing on the fort hood issue. I told them like Suhaib is saying “We live in America and Islam is completely compatible with that and that the reason why most of their kids are lost is because of the contradiction their parents have with this “anti-American Kuffar everything is haram” talk while choosing to live here.”

Sh. Abu Majeed, I have noticed that many uncles have given up the attitude and softened, whereas it is the young men in their teens and early twenties who have adopted this militant attitude. It’s pretty much the “cool thing” to do, kind of how some white people of that age join neo-nazi groups to be cool, etc. It’s considered cool because it is opposed to the authority figures. It’s basically being a rebel but in the guise of Islam.

Sh Abu Majeed-May Allah (SWT) reward you for your efforts. For someone like me, a “simple layman”, its beautiful to receive guidance on these issues-in a balanced way.

By this i mean not compromising our faith in any way, whilst at the same time living in the time and place we find ourselves in.

Hence, from my experience the more controversial issues / agendas are brushed under the carpet. I just think that in a dignified way, these extremist notions tackled in a formal, uncompromising and educated manner.

In this approach, we can all learn, see where individuals go wrong, and thereafter have a balanced (normative) understanding on these viewpoints. Thus if non-muslims ask, Insha’Allah we can articulate our point of view in a dignified way.

I remember after 9/11 Sh Hamza Yusuf got alot of similar negative statements, similar to Sheikh Suhaib, which was really unfair.

I think that having recognized (qualified) duat and scholars will really make the difference. Hence, its very brave of Sh. Suhaib to face these problems.

Also, I just think that the respect for authority is lost. Perhaps due to globalization, individuals feel a sense of empowerment when approaching out religious text without no sound training. This is very dangerous and can lead to chaos and anarchy both internally and externally.

Additionally, in this day and age, everything has become grey. Nothing is clear, hence for us simple people, things can get very confusing. I think e honestly have to take lessons from our glorious legacy in building a blueprint for the future,

I would love if you Abu Majeed gave these talks at our masjid. Don’t listen to the loud and brainwashed with anti-American sentiment, even coming from our religious “leaders” who subtly bash America as if to defend the actions of murderers. It’s too bad b/c in reality an organized media blitz is carried out against Muslims but our religious “leaders” have too much anti-American baggage to combat it, and properly explain Islam to Americans on major TV outlets, so instead the air time goes to the extremists.

And Abdullah the respect for authority is lost b/c those ppl in those positions arent doing there job…

Brother Suhaib may Allah reward you the fullest for all the benefits you have brought to our Ummah..Ameen. I agree with the other comments on this board that it is a breath of fresh air to tackle this subject head on. Brother Suhaib, InshAllah if you ever have the time it would be wonderful if you could do a lecture on the regulations that a Muslim must uphold during times of tribulation. I will not mention names but there have been certain English speaking shiekh through the internet and cd’s that hold extreme views that have captured many of the hearts of our youth because they are charismatic and good speakers. Sheikh Suhaib what the main stream Muslims need is a good series of lectures to counter these extreme points of view with evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah and the scholars. The reason I see this is because the ones who espouse extreme views are usually manipulating certain hadeeths and aya’s in the Quran to fit their agendas. If anyone has ever had a conversation with one of these types of youths who listen to lectures like those mentionedm you would see that they literally quote the same phrases as these speakers. Sheikh please provide us mainstream Muslims in these times of Fitnah with the knowledge to provide sound arguments(in form of audio or video) that we can redirect our brothers and sisters in the straight path. Please elaborate on the Hadiths and ayas they use specifically. Sheikh, may Allah reward for all that you do and Allah Barrick Feek… Ameen

I’m from the UAE- and I find these sorts of comments condemning imams/sheikhs for speaking out on the wrong actions of muslims in the west as strange. Muslims in the west are also part of this ummah- if they hurt, we all hurt too. It may not be under bombs, which is definitely a more grave issue, but if they suffer attacks it should not be seen as something minor.

It also affects how we function as an ummah- how can muslims in the west help palestine, iraq, afghanistan if the actions of a few make people see muslims as a 5th column?

As muslims, as an ummah, we should be concerned for the welfare of everyone- whether they be in China, Iraq, Somalia, UK or the US.

See that’s just it! Many immigrants and Muslim that live in Muslim lands don’t consider Muslim Americans, “Real Muslims”. So the whole attitude undermines the efforts to establish Islam firmly in America. Between the contradictory Robin Hood attitude (take from America and give back home) and their disregard for Muslim Americans we will continue to spin our wheels in establishing institutions that are truly here to help the people. I think it if less effort was put towards politicin’ and towards building the institutions that Muslims need to really be viable we would see some real progress.

You are a brave man for tackling this issue head one Shaykh, I know because I use to be an extremist and I know how they think, they can get psychotic sometimes, may ALlah protect us all from oppression and guide everyone to the balanced straight path

wow, what a response. 26 posts and that wasn’t even the point. let’s keep it local. just imagine if we were all to follow suit? then the global village would be cleaned up overnight! but we’re busy sitting on our fancy furniture at our pakora parties with fat tummies discussing world politics (lies) and condemning certain leaders. what would any of you do if you had saddam’s power? you can’t even begin to answer that if you really stopped to think about it. may Allah reward Suhaib Webb for this post and for keeping it real and local du’a is the most powerful help–it’s about time we follow the sunnah and continue making du’a for the world muslim community in our daily 5 prayers. and how many of you consistently criticize in the above fashion have gotten your last 40 days worth of prayers completely right. Thanks.

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